Young Sheldon can fix The Big Bang Theory finale's most questionable storyline reveal. Despite an uneven final season, CBS was able to come up with an emotionally satisfying finale for The Big Bang Theory where Sheldon and Amy received their Nobel Prize, while Leonard and Penny were revealed to be pregnant. Although the former was universally loved, the latter got mixed responses considering how adamant Penny had been about not wanting to have kids. Luckily, this is something that Young Sheldon can rectify despite being a prequel to The Big Bang Theory.
The problem with Leonard and Penny's pregnancy arc boiled down to execution. After stagnating the couple's collective narrative for years, it was CBS' rushed way to give them something to do in the nerd-centric sitcom's final year. However, instead of devoting time to developing the narrative, The Big Bang Theory season 12 treated it as an afterthought, offering an instant solution at the last minute. Subsequently, it was revealed that Kaley Cuoco opposed Penny's TBBT ending which made the whole controversy worse. If CBS wants to, however, they can use Young Sheldon to address this issue by taking advantage of its unique storytelling format.
The Big Bang Theory's Penny Pregnancy Arc Can Be Fixed In Young Sheldon
While Young Sheldon takes place in the past, its events are told from the perspective of a future version of Sheldon with Jim Parsons doing the episode narrations for the prequel. Primarily, this has been used to offer insight into Sheldon’s frame of mind and how it differs from his younger self’s. On top of that, however, this has also been used to provide updates about what the Pasadena gang is doing since the end of The Big Bang Theory, with both Amy and Howard making Young Sheldon cameos through voice appearances. This could also be the case for Penny and Leonard as they continue to raise their child.
Adult Sheldon’s voiceover can share new information about how the Hofstadters are doing following the birth of their first kid, something that The Big Bang Theory was never able to show. Perhaps Penny did actually change her mind about the matter and realized that having a child wasn't going to derail her career like she previously feared. It could also confirm that she and Leonard are perfectly happy with their baby despite her doubts about it. Whatever the case may be, CBS can use Young Sheldon to justify the divisive The Big Bang Theory finale reveal.
Why Young Sheldon Is The Perfect Place For A Penny Story Fix
It’s unclear how far removed adult Sheldon is from the end of The Big Bang Theory. A few years could have brought in a lot of changes in the Pasadena gang’s life, which could mean a shift in their relationships. But between Howard’s Young Sheldon cameo and Amy’s previous insistence that her kids become friends with the Hofstadters’ child, it’s safe to say that they are all still connected. Since there are no plans for any kind of The Big Bang Theory continuation any time soon, Young Sheldon would be the perfect opportunity to address this issue and finally lay the controversy to rest.